ZERO Project (alternatively stylized as: ZER0Project) was a Japanese Virtual YouTuber agency. It was billed as a "virtual talent agency" with "Starting from Zero, Aim for the World" (ゼロからセカイへ, zero kara sekai e) as its conceptual motto. Their strategy was to debut, manage and support both new and existing VTubers.
It was owned and operated by PIMLAB Inc. which also operates the VTuber news site "V-TuberZERO". The agency's VTubers primarily streamed on YouTube and SHOWROOM.
History[]
2019[]
On 4 March, VTuber news site V-TuberZERO announced the launch of ZERO Project[1] with the independent VTubers Nijiiro Hirari and Himeta Mirai[2] who joined as its first members.[3] Auditions for ZERO Project's first original character Tsumugine Rei would begin.
On 19 May, Tsumugine Rei started her activities after 3 rounds of auditions.
On 8 June, V-TuberZERO announced on Twitter that Himeta Mirai has gone on indefinite hiatus due to health reasons.[4]
On 21 August, Tsumugine Rei did her first stream on YouTube.[5]
On 2 September, Sakuramu Nana's channel was created.
On 25 September, Nijiiro Hirari uploaded her graduation video and retired.[6] In the video, she revealed that she got married.
On 23 October, Kumano Poemi made her debut.
On 21 December, Tenran Mii made her debut.
2020[]
On 24 February, Kinohoshi Tsukuri debuted on YouTube with a self-introduction video.[7]
2021[]
On 12 February, ZERO Project announced the upcoming debuts of 5 talents for its 2nd generation, which will be held in a relay on 19 February.[8] The list of talents include Ruif Infy, Amaki Pururu,[9] and Swima Clala,[10] plus the independent VTubers Sorahoshi Paru and Beamori Yurumo who will be joining ZERO Project on that date.
On 18 March, ZERO Project announced that both Sakuramu Nana and Tenran Mii would be graduating from the agency on 31 March.[11]
On 31 March, Sakuramu Nana and Tenran Mii held their graduation streams and retired.
On 1 May, Ichiya Uru held her debut stream on YouTube.[12]
On 1 July, ZERO Project announced that Kumano Poemi would be graduating from the agency on 31 July.[13] Poemi was fulfilling her promise from the beginning[14] that if she got herself a boyfriend, she would retire.[15]
On 31 July, Kumano Poemi held her graduation stream and retired.[16]
On 25 August, ZERO Project announced the upcoming debuts of 6 talents for its 3rd generation, which will be held in a relay on 30 August.[17] The list of talents include the recently-debuted Ichiya Uru, the new debutants Sinonome Mayoi,[18] Yumemi Yurame[19] and Sion Piyo, plus the independent VTubers Kurou Satsuki and Yumeri Mery who will be joining ZERO Project on that date.
2022[]
On 5 February, Yumeri Mery did a stream to announce her graduation and departure from Zero Project. She returns to being an independent VTuber.[20]
On 15 March, Swima Clala held her graduation stream and retired.[21]
Disbanding[]
On 22 August, ZERO Project announced that it was disbanding on 30 November of that year.[22]
On 31 August, Sorahoshi Paru[23] and Beamori Yurumo graduated from ZERO Project, becoming independent VTubers again. Ichiya Uru and Kinohoshi Tsukuri also graduated from the agency on this day, but retired. Tsukuri premiered her cover of 1000-nen Ikiteru (1000年生きてる) by Iyowa feat. Hatsune Miku on her channel as a farewell.
On 30 September, Amaki Pururu graduated from ZERO Project,[24] continuing her activities as an independent VTuber afterward. Sinonome Mayoi held her graduation stream and retired.[25]
On 31 October, Tsumugine Rei graduated from ZERO Project and retired. She premiered her original song Ao no Senshi (青の戦士) on her channel as a farewell.
On 30 November, ZERO Project officially disbanded. Yumemi Yurame graduated from ZERO Project,[26] continuing her activities as an independent VTuber afterward. Kurou Satsuki held her graduation stream[27] and returned to being an independent VTuber, while Ruif Infy and Sion Piyo also graduated on the same day and retired.
Members[]
| H | Is on an indefinite hiatus |
| F | Left the group or agency |
| R | Retired from VTubing activities |
Early Members[]
Formerly independent VTubers who became early members of the agency, but ceased activities before the members were organized into generations.
| Himeta Mirai H | Nijiiro Hirari R |
|---|---|
 |
 |
1st Generation[]
The first generation was formed including early member Tsumugine Rei, who was considered the agency's face as its first original character. "Rei" can also mean zero (零, rei) in Japanese.
| Tsumugine Rei R | Kinohoshi Tsukuri R ✗ | Kumano Poemi R | Tenran Mii R ✗ | Sakuramu Nana R ✗ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
2nd Generation[]
Sorahoshi Paru and Beamori Yurumo were independent VTubers who joined the agency's second generation as external hires.
| Ruif Infy R ✗ | Amaki Pururu F | Sorahoshi Paru F | Beamori Yurumo F | Swima Clala R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
3rd Generation[]
Solo debutant Ichiya Uru was included in the third generation, while Kurou Satsuki and Yumeri Mery were independent VTubers who joined the agency as external hires.
| Kurou Satsuki F | Yumemi Yurame F | Sion Piyo R ✗ | Sinonome Mayoi R | Ichiya Uru R | Yumeri Mery F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
External Links[]
- 0project.jp - Official Website
- ZERO Project公式 - Official YouTube channel
- ZEROProject公式 - Official Twitter account
Further readings[]
- ZEROProject - Pixiv Encyclopedia
Notes[]
- ↑ This table reflects the final state of ZERO Project at the time of its official disbanding on 30 November, 2022.
References[]
- ↑ v-tuber zero [@vtuber0]. (2019, March 4). ”ゼロからセカイへ。”新たなバーチャルタレントを目覚めさせる『ZERO Project』が始動！ https://vtub0.com/zero-project/20941 #ZEROPRoject #ぜろぷろ #Vtuber VTuber運営、始めました。 [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ Himeta, M. [@_HimetaMirai_]. (2019, March 4). リスインあざまるっっ #ぜろぷろ #姫多みらい #ZEROProject [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ Animel Studio. (2019, March 6). ZERO Project by vtuber zero [Article]. vtuber-studio.com.
- ↑ v-tuber zero [@vtuber0]. (2019, June 8). 【お知らせ】姫多みらいの活動一時休止について https://0project.jp/2785.html #ぜろぷろ #ZEROProject #姫多みらい [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ Tsumugine, R. [Rei Channel / 紡音れい]. (2019, August 21). 【YouTube初配信】モーションお披露目会 [Video]. YouTube.
- ↑ Nijiiro, H. [@nijiirohirari]. (2019, September 25). 遅くなってごめんねっっ！ これからもどんどん新しい道を楽しく頑張ってるのでまたどこかで会えますように( ᷇࿀ ᷆ ) 今まで本当にありがとう！ [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ Kinohoshi, T. [黄ノ星つくり / Tsukuri Kinohoshi]. (2020, February 24). 【自己紹介】” 芸術 ”に特化したリス系バーチャル YouTuber！！ 黄ノ星つくり です！！【 新人 Vtuber / ZEROProject 】 [Video]. YouTube.
- ↑ Panora. (2021, February 12). 紡音れいなど所属「ZERO Project」、2期生5名がデビュー 19日19時よりリレー配信 [Article]. Panora.
- ↑ Amaki, P. [天鬼ぷるる - Amaki Pururu -]. (2021, February 19). 【#ぜろぷろ2期生】天鬼ぷるる！ぷるぷる初降臨！！！【リレー配信】 [Video]. YouTube.
- ↑ Swima, C. [スイマクララ-SwimaClala-]. (2021, February 19). 【ぜろぷろ2期生】水間くらら初配信！！【Vtuber debut】 [Video]. YouTube.
- ↑ Panora. (2021, March 18). ZERO Project、桜夢なな、天爛みぃ2名が3月末に卒業 [Article]. Panora.
- ↑ Ichiya, U. [終宵 ウル / Ichiya Uru]. (2021, May 1). 【ZERO project3期生】正式デビューお披露目配信！【新人Vtuber/終宵ウル】 [Video]. YouTube.
- ↑ Panora. (2021, July 1). Zero Project所属・熊野ぽえみが卒業 ついに彼氏が出来た [Article]. Panora.
- ↑ Kumano, P. [@pompompoemi]. (2019). https://twitter.com/pompompoemi/status/1188047497991602178 [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ Kumano, P. [@pompompoemi]. (2021, July 1). https://twitter.com/pompompoemi/status/1410526134425448456 [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ Kumano, P. [熊野ぽえみ / POEMI ch.]. (2021, July 31). じゃあの。 [Video]. YouTube.
- ↑ Panora. (2021, August 25). ZERO Project 3期生が正式デビューし全6名に 既存組として夢理メリィと紅狼サツキが加入 [Article]. Panora.
- ↑ Sinonome, M. [東雲マヨイ-sinonome mayoi-]. (2021, August 30). 【#ぜろぷろ3期生 】東雲マヨイ お披露目リレー配信【#まよたいむ】 [Video]. YouTube.
- ↑ Yumemi, Y. [夢眠ゆらめ -Yumemi Yurame-]. (2021, August 30). 【＃ぜろぷろ3期生 】夢眠ゆらめ お披露目リレー配信！ [Video]. YouTube.
- ↑ Yumeri, M. [夢理メリィ /YumeriMery]. (2022, February 5). 事務所辞めます！【夢理メリィ/ZEROProject3期生】 [Video]. YouTube.
- ↑ Swima, C. [スイマクララ-SwimaClala-]. (2022, March 15). 【ぜろぷろ2期生】水間くらら卒業配信 [Video]. YouTube.
- ↑ ZEROProject公式 [@ZER0Project]. (2022, August 22). 【大事なお知らせ】 この度ZERO Projectは2022年11月30日をもって解散となりましたことをご報告いたします。 各タレントの今後については詳細ページをご確認下さい [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ Sorahoshi, P. [@parrrrr_chan]. (2022, August 31). 【祝卒業】事務所から脱出しました https://twitch.tv/soraposhich [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ Amaki, P. [@0PuRuRu]. (2022, September 30). 今日でぜろぷろ卒業します！ [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ Sinonome, M. [東雲マヨイ-sinonome mayoi-]. (2022, September 30). 【卒業配信】今までありがとう！最後に哺乳瓶でぽちゃけ呑んでルネッサンスしよ【#まよたいむ】 [Video]. YouTube.
- ↑ Yumemi, Y. [@y_yurame]. (2022, November 30). 🥚 配信告知 ⚡️ 明日11/30はぜろぷろ卒業配信🌸 ⏰23:00〜 https://youtu.be/LxVgJHJGSZ4 これまでの振り返りをメインに ましゅまろ読んだり✌️ . 待機所はまだないけど ⏰23:55頃〜 【 🌸卒業動画プレミア公開✨ 】も！ [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ Kurou, S. [紅狼サツキ-Kurou Satsuki-]. (2022, November 30). 【ZEROproject卒業配信】さよなら！ぜろぷろ！【紅狼サツキ/ 野良狼】 [Video]. YouTube.